Thursday, August 11, 2016

RIO DE JANEIRO (BP) -- Micah Christenson spent the past year playing professional volleyball in Italy. Sound like fun?

He thought so, too, until he got there. He couldn't speak the language and was living alone for the first time in a foreign country. He didn't have any friends on the team. And then he got sick the first week.

"I'm throwing up, and I'm sitting in my apartment alone," he told Baptist Press. "I'm like, man, this is a lot harder than I thought. I can't talk to anybody because there's a language barrier. I can't ask somebody where the eggs are in the grocery store." Read More

WASHINGTON (BP) -- Despite medical marijuana's legality in most states and the District of Columbia, the Obama administration announced today (Aug. 11) the drug will continue to be classified by the federal government as having "no currently approved medical use" and "a high potential for abuse."

Kim Jones, a pharmacy professor at Union University, told Baptist Press the decision may appear "somewhat surprising" in light of American culture's increasing acceptance of marijuana use, but it is "not surprising" from a scientific standpoint. Read More

WASHINGTON (BP) -- Advocates of religious freedom in higher education gained an important victory Wednesday (Aug. 10) on a controversial California bill that retains some troubling provisions for Christian and other schools.

The proposal's sponsor announced he would remove language at the heart of protests only a day after a Southern Baptist-led coalition issued a statement urging California legislators to withdraw their support. The multi-faith statement -- initiated by the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) -- said the measure, SB 1146, would harm low-income, minority students who seek to attend religious universities and colleges and would seriously restrict the freedom of such schools to establish standards consistent with their beliefs. Read More

NASHVILLE (BP) -- Lauren Daigle, named New Artist of the Year at last year's Dove Awards, tops the list of this year's artist nominees with six nominations. Worship artists Hillsong UNITED and Chris Tomlin each received five.

The Dove Awards are sponsored by the Gospel Music Association to honor the best in all genres of Christian music, and winners are determined by the votes of GMA members. This year's awards show will be Oct. 11 at Lipscomb University's Allen Arena in Nashville. Read More

The idea of speed extends beyond the automotive realm, David Jeremiah writes in examining "the speed of our lives relative to our spiritual needs." A proper speed, the California pastor notes, yields contentment; knowledge of Scripture; service for Christ and healthy relationships. Read More

This weekly Bible study appears in Baptist Press in a partnership with LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Through its Leadership and Adult Publishing team, LifeWay publishes Sunday School curricula and additional resources for all age groups. Read More

Formed in 1946 by the Southern Baptist Convention, and supported with Cooperative Program funds, Baptist Press (BP) is a daily (Monday-Friday) international news service. Operating from a central bureau in Nashville, Tenn., BP works with a large network of contributing writers, photographers and editorial providers to produce BP News.